A versatile dynamic light scattering strategy for the sensitive detection of microRNAs based on plasmonic core-satellites nanoassembly coupled with strand displacement reaction

A low-cost, effective and enzyme-free sensing strategy for ultrasensitive microRNA (miRNA) detection was developed based on dynamic light scattering (DLS) coupled with strand displacement reaction (SDR). The combination of DLS and SDR was used to assess the size changes of core-satellites nanoassembly. This strategy realized the limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.24 pM (S/N = 3) and the detection range of 5 pM-150 pM, which might urge this strategy as an ideal candidate for the sensitive detection of miRNA in the future. In addition, the proposed strategy could be successfully used to analyze target miRNA in various cancer cells, indicating that the developed SDR-DLS strategy has promising clinical implications for rapid and early diagnosis of cancer-related diseases.